High-performance housings for backward-curved blowers

Abstract

In an embodiment, a blower for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system includes a blower wheel and a housing. The blower wheel includes backward-curved blades configured to rotate in a rotational plane. The housing forms an at least hexagonal cross-section around at least a portion of the rotational plane, where the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists a first distance and a second distance. The first distance is measured radially outward from a center of the blower wheel to a first side of the at least hexagonal cross-section. The second distance is measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a second side of the at least hexagonal cross-section. The second distance forms a an acute angle with the first distance. The first distance and the second distance are unequal and less than a diameter of the blower wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blower for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the blower comprising:
 a blower wheel comprising backward-curved blades configured to rotate in a rotational plane; 
 a housing forming a heptagonal cross-section around at least a portion of the rotational plane, wherein the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists: 
 a first distance measured radially outward from a center of the blower wheel to a first side of the heptagonal cross-section; and 
 a second distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a second side of the heptagonal cross-section, wherein the second distance forms a first angle with the first distance; the first angle being an acute angle, and wherein the first distance and the second distance are unequal and less than a diameter of the blower wheel. 
 
     
     
       2. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle is approximately 45 degrees. 
     
     
       3. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first distance is approximately 0.55 to 0.57 times the diameter of the blower wheel; and 
 the second distance is approximately 0.73 to 0.75 times the diameter of the blower wheel. 
 
     
     
       4. The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists a third distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a third side of the heptagonal cross-section, wherein the third distance forms a second angle with the first distance, the second angle being an approximately right angle that includes the first angle. 
     
     
       5. The blower of  claim 4 , wherein the third distance is approximately 0.72 to 0.8 times a diameter of the blower wheel. 
     
     
       6. The blower of  claim 4 , wherein the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists a fourth distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a fourth side of the heptagonal cross-section, wherein the fourth distance forms a third angle with the first distance, the third angle being an obtuse angle that includes the second angle. 
     
     
       7. The blower of  claim 6 , wherein the fourth distance is approximately 0.84 to 0.86 times the diameter of the blower wheel. 
     
     
       8. The blower of  claim 6 , wherein the third angle is approximately 135 degrees. 
     
     
       9. The blower of  claim 6 , wherein the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists a fifth distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a fifth side of the heptagonal cross-section, wherein the fifth distance forms a fourth angle with the first distance, and wherein the fourth angle is approximately 180 degrees and includes the third angle. 
     
     
       10. The blower of  claim 9 , wherein the fifth distance is approximately 0.89 to 0.91 times the diameter of the blower wheel. 
     
     
       11. The blower of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first distance is approximately 0.55 to 0.57 times the diameter of the blower wheel; and 
 the second distance is approximately 0.73 to 0.75 times the diameter of the blower wheel; 
 the third distance is approximately 0.72 to 0.8 times the diameter of the blower wheel; 
 the fourth distance is approximately 0.84 to 0.86 times the diameter of the blower wheel; and 
 the fifth distance is approximately 0.89 to 0.91 times the diameter of the blower wheel. 
 
     
     
       12. The blower of  claim 7 , wherein the heptagonal cross-section includes more than six sides. 
     
     
       13. The blower of  claim 9 , wherein the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists a sixth distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a sixth side of the heptagonal cross-section, wherein the sixth distance forms a fifth angle with the first distance, and wherein the fifth angle includes the fourth angle. 
     
     
       14. The blower of  claim 13 , wherein the fifth angle is approximately 270 degrees. 
     
     
       15. The blower of  claim 13 , wherein the sixth distance is approximately 0.55 to 0.57 times the diameter of the blower wheel. 
     
     
       16. The blower of  claim 13 , wherein the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists a seventh distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a seventh side of the heptagonal cross-section, wherein the seventh distance forms a sixth angle with the first distance, and wherein the sixth angle includes the fifth angle. 
     
     
       17. The blower of  claim 16 , wherein the sixth angle is approximately 315 degrees. 
     
     
       18. The blower of  claim 16 , wherein the seventh distance is approximately 0.59 to 0.61 times a diameter of the blower wheel. 
     
     
       19. A method of assembling a blower, the method comprising:
 providing a housing and a blower wheel, the blower wheel comprising backward-curved blades configured to rotate in a rotational plane; and 
 positioning the blower wheel in the housing such that the housing forms a heptagonal cross-section around at least a portion of the rotational plane and such that there exists: 
 a first distance measured radially outward from a center of the blower wheel to a first side of the heptagonal cross-section; and 
 a second distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a second side of the heptagonal cross-section, wherein the second distance forms a first angle with the first distance; the first angle being an acute angle, and wherein the first distance and the second distance are unequal and less than a diameter of the blower wheel. 
 
     
     
       20. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, comprising:
 an evaporator coil; 
 a blower coupled to the evaporator coil, the blower comprising: 
 a blower wheel comprising backward-curved blades configured to rotate in a rotational plane; 
 a housing forming a heptagonal cross-section around at least a portion of the rotational plane, wherein the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists: 
 a first distance measured radially outward from a center of the blower wheel to a first side of the heptagonal cross-section; and 
 a second distance measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a second side of the heptagonal cross-section, wherein the second distance forms a first angle with the first distance; the first angle being an acute angle, and wherein the first distance and the second distance are unequal and less than a diameter of the blower wheel.